Listen to the broadcast version of this story that aired on Kootenay Morning on Friday, April 24, 2026:

By Jaime Frederick, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With the arrival of spring and an increase in the number of bikes on the roads, cycling advocates in the West Kootenays are reminding motorists that roadways are a shared space with other vulnerable users, including both bicyclists and pedestrians. 

As part of that, it’s good to remember that in BC the legal minimum safe passing distance for motorists to overtake a cyclist is one metre on roads with a posted speed limit of up to 50 kilometres per hour. On roads where the speed limit is higher than that, the minimum safe passing distance increases to 1.5 metres.

Solita Work, vice president of the West Kootenay Cycling Coalition, says in some cases that’s barely enough.

“I ride on the highway all the time and I can tell you most people adhere to it, but there’s always a few who don’t,” she says. “I mean, a big semi or logging truck coming by and you’re definitely left in the wind tunnel. And one mistake and I’m dead, right?”

ICBC data for the Southern Interior shows that the number of crashes involving cyclists increased over a five-year period, from 217 in 2020 to 319 in 2024. The number of crashes with injured victims have also been on the rise. And while the majority of these incidents occurred in the Okanagan, a significant number took place in the West Kootenays. There have been few fatalities, but most would agree that even one fatality is too many.

John DeVries, an avid Nelson road cyclist who rides more than 10,000 kilometres per year, notes that many motorists don’t realize just how terrifying it can be when a vehicle passes too close, without respecting the safe passing distance. 

“The first thing is it feels very threatening and hostile, especially when you can see that no one else is coming from the other direction and it would be easy to move over,” says DeVries. “If they all of a sudden are on their phone or they swerve into you, your life is over. Or at least in the hospital. It is highly consequential, and so it feels intentional, even when it might not be.”

Sergeant Vincent Leblanc with the BC Highway Patrol notes that all road users have a responsibility for each other’s safety. 

“Cyclists and motorists should always be watching out for each other and sharing the road,” says Leblanc. “Nobody owns it and it’s a shared endeavour. So both parties are responsible for their safety and others. And always in the case of cars and trucks and cyclists, you always give each other plenty of space.”

Leblanc adds that cyclists have a responsibility to ride single file and ensure that they are riding as far to the right side of the road as practicable. He also recommends cyclists take measures to make themselves as visible as possible.

“When you’re riding your bicycle out in the elements, it’s always a good idea to be visible so that everyone is able to see you,” he says. “Reflective colours, visible colours, orange and yellow would be best, or something reflective on your gear. Riding a bike at night is extremely dangerous.”

For his safety, DeVries has taken precautionary measures to ensure that he can be seen, including a front light and flashing red taillight. That taillight also has a built-in camera, similar to a dashboard camera in a car.

“Taking responsibility on the road is really important for cyclists as well,” he says. “I just purchased a camera and it shows up on the back of my bicycle as a flashing red light. Anytime a car is approaching, it sends me a signal on my bike computer and then also records the car passing. It provides support for me, so I know if I need to move over even further. But it also should be a reminder to [motorists] that there’s a lot of cyclists that are… filming the cars as they pass.”

The intention and hope is that all road users will follow the rules, be predictable and respect each other’s presence on West Kootenay roadways this spring. For more information, visit https://icbc.com/road-safety/sharing/cycling-safety.